Michael Carrick

[Delima]

Michael Carrick is not good enough as a defensive midfielder. He is a playmaker, a deep lying playmaker, a poor man Andrea Pirlo,  a poor man Xabi Alonso, though I believe with experience he could be as good as Pirlo. Playing him as a defensive midfielder (as Man U and England do) are a waste of his talent and place. Carrick offers no grip of the game. Putting him deep he makes no tackle, no blocking, no hussles and tussles. He collects the loose ball, makes himself available for passing (from the defender), but because of his position, his either simply squares it off to Scholes, or passing to wingers.

 

This makes him a waste of space water carrier. And in a high level team there is little room for such position waste. Someone like Deschamp, Mascherano, Makelele, offers excellent defensive shielding apart from linking the defensive line and midfield. It is no surprise that even though Benitez bought Xabi Alonson for 10M£, he still proceeds to acquire the destroyer Sissoko (and later Mascherano). It's no surprise that without Hamann first half, Liverpool nearly lost the CL final against AC Milan. Xabi Alonso is a player I adore very much, the very brain and heart of a team he is. Even though he puts in a lot more tackles than Carrick, he is still not specialised enough.

 

In the Premiership, Carrick has been very lucky to have Scholes alongside him and Vidic + Ferdinand behind him. Scholes a clumsy tackler he is, puts in many tackles during games. He is tolerated by Premiership referee, and hence doing Carrick's job too. Behind Carrick Man U have Vidic + Ferdinand who play high defensive line and who are not afraid to come into the middle of park to nullify the opponents. Instead of Carrick offering more defensive work to the team, it is the defenders and Scholes doing defensive work for Carrick.

 

Against a good side, a specialist defensive midfielder is a must, no longer an option. Of course, a purely defensive midfielder without forward passing ability won't be good enough for a top team. Makelele is always clam and composed, and always passes the ball (if situation allows) to attacking minded players. John Obi Mikel does not fully acquire Makelele's nous yet, however he dribbles the ball and drives the team forward.

 

Michael Carrick scores nice goals occassionally. He certainly has the class with him. But playing him as a defensive midfielder, while benefitial against lesser team for his attacking threat, is detrimental against high quality opponents. Man U dither at the transfer of Owen Hagreaves, and is playing for the price now.

 

Newcastle United have a very good defensive midfielder in our rank, his name is Scott Parker. Yeah he does slow the team down, but as a defensive midfielder his defensive service is better than Michael Carrick's.

[madras]

never rated carrick,never seen him dominate enough yet seen him disappear loads,very tidy player but aplayer i'd be miffed if we bid more than £7mill for.he's helped out with man utd having much movement but is the sign of a good player that they can do it in a poor team(good question for later actually)

[Guest kingdawson]

Michael Carrick is a class player tbh.

[Guest JamesD]

probably the best passer in england atm...

[madras]

does he score,does he win the ball,does he dominate ?

[Baggio]

Man Utd don't need a defensive midfielder in 95% of games as they dominate the opposition, for that reason alone Carrick is an ideal player for them, he doesn't have to venture too far forward as he's there to keep everything neat and tidy.

 

Man Utd only need to play a defensive midfielder against the very top teams they come up against, and to suggest Parker is better than him in that position is madness.

[mrmojorisin75]

why do you think ferguson is continuing to chase hargreaves?

 

he's astute enough to realise this himself and if they do get hargreaves he'll provide the side of the game they missed wednesday against milan, the side of the game that gattuso/ambrosini performed so well against them

 

would free carrick to play more like seedorf/pirlo presumably....still expected to track back but with a remit of being more creative

 

after how badly they were beaten by milan i'd expect ferguson to go after hargreaves with everything he's now

[Howaythelads]

Agree that he's not great, but I'd take him here ahead of Parka, that's for sure.

[Martin Lol]

Agree that he's not great, but I'd take him here ahead of Parka, that's for sure.

 

He's not great but does a lot of things really well without them being obvious, not a great tackler, but tidies up well for example.  I think Spurs fans argued more about his strengths and abilities more than any other player in the past 6 or 7 years.  Now that he's gone, I think everyone is agreed that Spurs are far worse off with his absence.  He's playing a more advanced role for Man Utd, probably 20 yds further upfield and that shows in the goals he's scored to Utd compared to the 2 he scored for Spurs.

 

If he had played more like he did for Spurs, I think Utd might have got to the CL final.  He isn't a true holding MF player like Hargreaves, but if a team hasn't got that type of player, as Utd haven't, Carrick can do an effective job there whilst not being ideal.

[Stevie]

Michael Carrick is a class player tbh.

It's a rare post when kingdawson isn't talking shite but this is one of those rare occasions.  Delima I couldn't possibly disagree more with you.  It's amazing how fickle people are, Carrick has been absolutely magnificent in front of the back four in the second half of the season, he's not Roy Keane but he has assets to his game that Keane didn't, and I'm amazed how easily people jump on the band wagon after one shit game.

[Guest nyscooby]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

 

"Best in England squad" doesn't say much for the rest of them does it?

 

To compare with Parker, well at least Carrick can find the target, "barn door Parker".... our mid field has squandered so many chances this and last season, i wouldn't want Carrick in there either.

[Dr Spectrum]

I've been really turned round on him of late. I thought he was shite early on, absolutely nothing player...but he seems to have found himself 2nd half of the season. Always came across as being totally lethargic, never leaving the centre circle but the ammount of times he's gotten forward as increased out of sight as far as I can tell. Not really like Keane or another DM at all...seems to be playing more like Scholes IMO (Nowhere near as good tho).

[Guest alex]

why do you think ferguson is continuing to chase hargreaves?

 

he's astute enough to realise this himself and if they do get hargreaves he'll provide the side of the game they missed wednesday against milan, the side of the game that gattuso/ambrosini performed so well against them

 

would free carrick to play more like seedorf/pirlo presumably....still expected to track back but with a remit of being more creative

 

after how badly they were beaten by milan i'd expect ferguson to go after hargreaves with everything he's now

Aye, despite playing class this season, Scholes isn't getting any younger and the likes of Fletcher aren't good enough for what Man Utd want to achieve, i.e. winning the Champions League. I think Carrick and Hargreaves will be partnered together in central midfield in the long-term if the latter signs. They are different types of player, with Carrick being more comfortable sitting in front of the back four and spraying the ball around while Hargreaves can play more of a box-to-box role. Carrick is class imo.

[Stevie]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

Incredible post.  Ask any Man Utd fan what they think of him.

[Guest graemeh72]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

Incredible post.  Ask any Man Utd fan what they think of him.

 

Most Man U fans I know are pretty indifferent to him and would prefer Hargreaves.

 

If it wasn't for Richardson and Fletcher, he'd be getting grief.

[Parky]

Carrick is good at a lot of things and his passing is excellent. Not good enough to take on Pirlo/Ambrosini. That is the story here.

[1878]

I've said since the summer that it's obvious Ferguson wants to have a poor mans Gattusso and Pirlo with Hargreaves and Carrick in his team. It won't be as good as they are for Milan but still pretty class all the same.

 

I still don't think Carrick is performing as well as he did for Spurs btw. He had more responsibility there whereas Scholes is the main man at Utd

[Stevie]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

Incredible post.  Ask any Man Utd fan what they think of him.

 

Most Man U fans I know are pretty indifferent to him and would prefer Hargreaves.

 

If it wasn't for Richardson and Fletcher, he'd be getting grief.

Most of the Man Utd fans you know are probably non match going reds?  I would put money on it.  Many say he's been their best player in the second half of the season.

[Northern Monkey]

Carrick is far, far better than Parker.

 

Anyone who geniunely thinks Parker is better either have a bizarre idea of what a midifelder should do, or is looking at him through typical Toon-tinted glasses, in the same way some do when they talk about Dyer being international class, or Shambles being a premiership-level defender.

 

 

[Stevie]

Parker couldn't wipe Carrick's arse, anyone that says other wise is taakin pish.

[Thespence]

Man Utd don't need a defensive midfielder in 95% of games as they dominate the opposition, for that reason alone Carrick is an ideal player for them, he doesn't have to venture too far forward as he's there to keep everything neat and tidy.

 

Man Utd only need to play a defensive midfielder against the very top teams they come up against,

 

That is what I have been saying to people this week. I said Fergie signed Veron thinking he would do the role Carrick is doing but it failed.

 

Scholes & Carrick wont play together next year in the big games, if  Owen Hargreaves signs & is then fit for these games.

 

[Guest graemeh72]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

Incredible post.  Ask any Man Utd fan what they think of him.

 

Most Man U fans I know are pretty indifferent to him and would prefer Hargreaves.

 

If it wasn't for Richardson and Fletcher, he'd be getting grief.

Most of the Man Utd fans you know are probably non match going reds?  I would put money on it.  Many say he's been their best player in the second half of the season.

 

No they're not I'm afraid - Sad to say I know quite a few on the 9am train out of Kings Cross

 

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[Stevie]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

Incredible post.  Ask any Man Utd fan what they think of him.

 

Most Man U fans I know are pretty indifferent to him and would prefer Hargreaves.

 

If it wasn't for Richardson and Fletcher, he'd be getting grief.

Most of the Man Utd fans you know are probably non match going reds?  I would put money on it.  Many say he's been their best player in the second half of the season.

 

No they're not I'm afraid - Sad to say I know quite a few on the 9am train out of Kings Cross

 

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Why would Man Utd fans be travelling from King's Cross when the station for Manchester is 300 yards along the road at Euston?

 

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[Guest graemeh72]

Carrick, 100% out classed and out of his depth vs Milan.

 

I'd be suprised if he isn't playing less next season.

Incredible post.  Ask any Man Utd fan what they think of him.

 

Most Man U fans I know are pretty indifferent to him and would prefer Hargreaves.

 

If it wasn't for Richardson and Fletcher, he'd be getting grief.

Most of the Man Utd fans you know are probably non match going reds?  I would put money on it.  Many say he's been their best player in the second half of the season.

 

No they're not I'm afraid - Sad to say I know quite a few on the 9am train out of Kings Cross

 

next

Why would Man Utd fans be travelling from King's Cross when the station for Manchester is 300 yards along the road at Euston?

 

next

 

Chapeau ...

[Slugsy]

Good player, not a defensive midfielder by any stretch of the imagination but a really classy passer, somebody who I would love as we haven't had a really classy central midfielder of that ability since probably Rob Lee.  Should blossom when Scholes gives up as it will give Carrick the more forward, creative role.

 

Mind you, big boots to fill, Scholes is the finest central attacking midfielder I have seen in England ever.